Latest news with #Toshi
Mint
14-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Mint
When Nagas smoke meat, they preserve the past
Naga Smoking Techniques with Toshi and Annie Jamir What alchemy of fire and wood turns a portly pig into silken-fleshed deliciousness? I was hoping Annie Jamir, the owner of Longchen homestay, would detail out the processes, but she directed me to her husband. 'Talk to Toshi. He's a smoking hound. He's hardcore,' she said. Clad in a black hat, white polo tee, and khaki shorts, Toshi joined us at the machang, an alfresco bamboo platform where breakfast was served the next morning. A purist at heart, he regards smoking as a true labour of love. 'You gotta slog to get it right. There are no shortcuts,' he said, his passion for the art reflecting in the seriousness of his expression. The rituals of cleaning, curing, and smoking were muscle memory to the aficionado, who credited his early training to his mother. 'Mum was a Khasi from Shillong, but more Naga in her ways than dad. She taught me to use every last morsel of the animal, including the hide,' he shared. Later, as an officer in the Assam Regiment, Toshi upped his smoking game by observing his batchmates. 'The regiment was a mix of people from different northeastern tribes—Kukis, Khasis, Bodos, Jaintias, Nagas, Mizos, and others. Each had his own technique and process, and we learnt constantly from one another,' he recounted. Also read: How bamboo shoot flavours the cuisines of North-east India Thrown on the frontlines for months on end, smoking meat meant survival. 'Wild boar, deer, jungle fowl, monkeys—we hunted and smoked it all. We had such a gala time, we even forgot our families!' he said, guffawing. The retired military man makes the most out of the working farm around their homestay—from the hogs penned in the woods to the open outer kitchen where he smokes meat throughout the year. Though smoking techniques vary across the sixteen Naga tribes, the tried and tested method followed by Toshi is broadly representative. Sourcing his pork from the neighbourhood butcher, he insists on cleaning and cutting the carcass himself. Salting, which dehydrates the meat and serves an essential anti-microbial function, is the crucial next step. Toshi also uses a coarse, dry rub of cracked pepper mixed with red chillies or dried lemon leaves to flavour the meat. 'You can use any spice you like. Just keep it simple,' he said, adding that the flavour of the meat must not be overwhelmed. Smoking organically over traditional bamboo racks, Toshi likes to build and tend his fires manually. The charred appeal of smoked meat, he explained, derives in large part from the chemical properties of hardwood. Cellulose and lignin, present in the cells of wood, yield aromatic compounds during combustion, imparting a toasty scent. The Maillard reaction, responsible for the browning of meat, does the rest, imbuing the flesh with subtle savoury, sweet, and bitter flavour notes. The end result—a preserved, flavoured, and partially cooked hunk of meat—is used by each of the Naga tribes differently. Toshi swore by his signature dish, a searingly pungent smoked pork and bamboo shoot curry. 'It's sure to make you sweat,' he promised. Luckily, tamoming, the Changki delicacy the couple fed me, was anything but lethal. Made from smoked pork cooked with mashed potatoes, tomatoes, and dried chillies, its taste was mellow, with the subtle spiciness from the herbs gently seasoning the dish. My session with the Jamirs was revelatory. When Nagas smoke meat, they keep alive the most ancient method of preserving food known to mankind. Transcending mere utility, the ritual channels a primitive, almost atavistic, desire to connect with our prehistoric past. Eons ago, someone put some flesh over flame and turned it into a piece of smoky scrumptiousness. It must have felt like abracadabra then. To me, it still does. RIKYNTI SYIEM'S SMOKED PORK WITH BAMBOO SHOOTS Serves 4, time taken 1–1.5 hours INGREDIENTS Smoked pork ½ kg Garlic 6–8 cloves Black sesame Roasted and pounded, 1 tbsp Bamboo shoots 4 tbsp, chopped Green/red chillies 3–4 Salt to taste METHOD Wash the smoked pork and boil in water. After boiling for about 30 minutes, add bamboo shoots. Boil for some more time. Add crushed garlic cloves or garlic paste. Add black sesame seed paste. Add some chillies and salt and cook till the bamboo shoots become tender. Serve hot. Also read: Once derided as 'stinky', Naga food now fuels entrepreneurship Excerpted with permission from 'An Invitation to Feast' by Sona Bahadur, published by Aleph Book Company.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sapien Launches Sapien Squad with Airdrop for Base Communities
First activation begins with Toshi, 50K claimable spots now live TORONTO, May 6, 2025 (Bitwire) -- Sapien, the open protocol connecting human intelligence with AI systems, has launchedSapien Squad, a new campaign on Base to rally some of the network's earliest and most active communities around a shared data foundry powering real-world AI systems. The first activation begins with Toshi, and launched today . A snapshot of the top 100,000 wallets in the Toshi ecosystem, based on recent activity and engagement, was taken. From that group, 50,000 wallets can claim aSapien Squad badgeon a first-come, first-served basis. The badge is an NFT that confirms airdrop eligibility and unlocks access to upcoming quests, mints, and rewards. Claiming is now live at . Minting is free for eligible wallets. Each wallet may only claim one Sapien Squad badge for the Toshi phase. If you've already claimed, you're good - no need to mint again. Sapien Squad brings together aligned communities on Base. Think of it like a MegaZord for decentralized AI: each group contributes its own energy, ethos, and member base to build something greater than the sum of its parts. The result is an open,human-powered data foundry built to make AI more accountable, diverse, and useful. 'Sapien connects real people to the data pipelines that train AI. We're building open infrastructure for one of the most powerful forces in tech, and Base is where that work should live. It's cultural, it's collaborative, and it's home to some of the most based builders out there. We're starting with Toshi and opening the door to more,' said Rowan Stone, co-founder and CEO of Sapien. By integrating with Base, Sapien is showing what becomes possible when data infrastructure is made accessible to everyone. Through collaborative onchain activations, shared quests, token-linked NFTs, and community airdrops, Sapien Squad gives communities new ways to participate, contribute, and earn. This is just the start. More quests, drops, and partner activations are coming soon. About Sapien Sapien is building the first decentralized data foundry, a permissionless protocol enabling enterprises, AI models, and agents to source expert knowledge at scale. By combining onchain technology, reputation systems, and gamification, Sapien aligns incentives to produce high-quality data for AI while empowering contributors globally. Learn more at .
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Top things to do in the country from April 11-13
The weekend is here, so is our guide to the best events and activities happening around the UAE. Here's the list: A new multi-sensory adventure SENSAS, the globally popular multi-sensory adventure from France, has arrived in Dubai, offering a unique 2-hour group experience that challenges all five senses through immersive, often darkened workshops. Ideal for families, friends, and team-building, participants solve tactile puzzles, taste mystery flavours, and navigate laser rooms, all while collecting sensory tokens that support a charitable cause for people with disabilities. Partnered with Fever, SENSAS makes its Dubai debut as a one-of-a-kind experience designed to surprise, connect, and entertain guests of all ages. Celebrate Songkran Festival in Dubai Toshi at the Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai is celebrating Thailand's vibrant Songkran Festival on Sunday, April 13, from 6.30pm to 11pm with a festive evening featuring authentic Thai cuisine. Guests can enjoy a special Thai buffet and à la carte menu featuring live cooking stations serving classics like Tom Yum soup, Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, and traditional desserts. The celebration will also include raffle draws with exciting gift vouchers, all set in Toshi's warm and inviting ambiance. Reservations are required. Stick around and find out Heinz is launching the world's first ad interrupted by a movie, rewarding moviegoers who stay through the end credits with free limited-edition merch and exclusive deals. Until April 11 at Dubai Mall Reel Cinemas, attendees watching Mickey 17, or The Amateur can unlock these giveaways by sticking around after the film ends — making the wait as worth it as their iconic ketchup. Art nights DIFC Art Nights returns for its 19th edition, transforming Gate Village into a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and creativity until April 13. Running daily from 5pm to 10pm, the free event features live performances, public art installations, and engaging panel discussions, including a focus on women in art on opening night and talks by Christie's and Dubai Culture on April 11. With contributions from leading voices like Dr Dena Assaf and Arne Everwijn, plus a showcase of everything from pottery to AI-generated art, this four-day cultural extravaganza cements DIFC's role as a significant artistic hub in the UAE. Egyptian-American artist Felukah to perform Dubai gets a chic new addition with the grand opening of GABA on April 12 in Dubai Marina. A serene tea room by day and a vintage glamour speakeasy by night, GABA blends heritage, luxury, and mystery. Its debut will feature a one-night-only live performance by Egyptian-American artist Felukah, known for her genre-blending sound and viral hit Al Wad Kadab. Guests can expect curated Asian teas, GABA-infused wellness blends, crafted beverages, rotating pop-art exhibits, and exclusive events. Entry starts at Dh150 and details will be revealed upon booking. Follow @ for updates. Relax and rejuvenate The Recovery Retreat at Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah offers a luxurious three-hour wellness experience designed to restore and recharge body and mind. Priced at Dh1,600, the retreat includes a 45-minute Reformer Pilates session, 45-minute Detox Dome Therapy using infrared and light technology, and a 90-minute deep-tissue Muscle Recovery Massage. Ideal for those facing stress, fatigue, or an active lifestyle, the retreat takes place in the serene surroundings of Jumeirah Al Qasr. To book, contact mjtalise@ or call 04 366 6818.
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Cottontail review – life lessons are learnt in tender, Beatrix Potter-inspired tale
The curse of Beatrix Potter-associated cinema – from the lamentable Peter Rabbit films to the merely dismal Miss Potter – is lifted, at least temporarily, by the debut feature from Patrick Dickinson, even if his picture's relationship to Potter's work is purely tangential. It was as a child on holiday in Windermere in the 1960s that Akiko (Tae Kimura) was first enchanted by the author's stories. After her death from Alzheimer's, her husband, the novelist and teacher Kenzaburo (Lily Franky), is given a letter written in the early stages of her diagnosis in which she asks him to travel from Tokyo to the Lake District to scatter her ashes in that cherished location. Though he has a strained relationship with their son, Toshi (Ryo Nishikido), Kenzaburo allows him and his family to come along on the emotional expedition, only to feel constrained by the timetable that Toshi imposes. Soon, the old man is off on his own, pedalling around the English countryside without a map. Expanded by Dickinson from his 2013 short film Usagi-san (AKA Mr Rabbit), Cottontail is simultaneously tender and inconsequential, forever reaching for a profundity that remains beyond its grasp. Despite minor difficulties, everything pans out the way one would expect: father and son overcome their problems to become closer; friendships with benevolent strangers are kindled en route (including with a widowed farmer and his daughter, played by real-life father and daughter Ciarán and Aoife Hinds); and Windermere is eventually reached, the camera soaring just as the score does likewise. The film is not without its rewards, mostly found in Andrew Javadji's editing, which allows past and present to flow gently into one another, and in Franky's understated performance as the widower not quite in touch with his family, his feelings or the world at large – but doing his best. Cottontail is in UK and Irish cinemas from 14 February.
